No official Fenerbahce transport for Arsenal fans

Arsenal fans travelling to Turkey for the club’s Champions League qualifier against Fenerbahce will not be able to use an official club travel package.

The Gunners say they have been unable to organise an official travel option, citing the high demand for trips to Istanbul during the holiday season. Ordinarily, fans would be offered a club travel package allowing them to travel to and from the match with groups of other ticket-holders.

Away trips to Turkey have proven to be dangerous on more than one occasion for English clubs playing in Europe, not least the fatal stabbings of two Leeds fans in Istanbul in 2000, so the lack of a club-approved travel option is a blow to supporters.

In a statement on its website, Arsenal said: “The club has researched options for ticket-holding supporters wishing to travel to the match in Istanbul against Fenerbahce on Wednesday, August 21. As a result of high demand on this route due to the holiday season, sadly the Club is not able to offer supporters a travel option for this match.

“Going forward Arsenal Travel will make every effort to provide a service to supporters wishing to travel to away matches in Europe, and apologise that a travel option couldn’t be secured on this occasion.”

All Arsenal supporters will now have to make their own arrangements to get to the game.

thanks lot Arsenal, great way to show your most loyal fans exactly what they mean to you – no profit to be made then go f*ck yourselves. Absolute disgrace, especially bearing in mind the venue and history between Turkish and English supporters.